Journey To An Unnamed World

“This is not passive promenade theatre, but an experiential theatre journey whereby the students will find magic in unexpected moments…”

Suzie Miller, Writer

About

NORPA has created an immersive new theatre work for children, taking them on a Journey to an Unnamed World.

In partnership with the Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Lismore, NORPA’s creative team has developed an innovative new work, Journey to an Unnamed World. The aim is for primary-aged children to experience a new way of interacting with theatre in a multi-sensory, site-specific work, designed to develop imagination, literacy, self-identity and their notions of what theatre can be.

‘Journey’ entices the young audience into an Unnamed World where they contribute to the story and interact with characters, immersing them in an environment that combines literature and theatre. Once the world is mapped and named it becomes something owned by the students themselves. This design-led adventure creates complex and layered installations that the students interact with, and which delight and ultimately inspire them to create further story. The path the students take is both multi-linear and multi-sensory, allowing them to explore within a framework and yet to also wander into their own individual experience.

The work was initially launched to over 500 students from across the Northern Rivers during Book Week 2016, when the entire bottom floor of Lismore City Hall became a theatrical adventure for children, and they became part of the performance.

The project begins with classroom workshops and each child creating a passport, which is a requirement for their entry and participation in the Unnamed World.

“Journey to an Unnamed World brings the talents of great teaching and great performing arts together. We want to inspire children through an interaction that leaves a lasting impression and helps to build their love of literature into secondary education.”

Paul Thornton, Assistant Director Education Services, Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Lismore.

“Journey to an Unnamed World fits in perfectly with the curriculum. We’re currently studying a multimodal form at school where we’re encouraging the children to explore different ways of expressing a storyline and their imaginations – Journey to an Unnamed World was a beautiful example of how you can use a whole palette of different forms to express yourself. This is contemporary learning at its best.”

Nicky Wagner, teacher

creative team

Directors Julian Louis and Valley Lipcer
Writer Suzie Miller
Production Designer Edward Horne
Costume Designer Charlotte Haywood
Sound Designer Phil Downing
Lighting Designer Karl Johnson
Performers Kimberley McIntyre, Neil Young and Ava Jarrett
Producer Marisa Snow
Executive Producer Emily Berry
Design Interns Andrew McNeill, Katie Lloyd, Holly Ahern
Costume Fabrication Wollongbar TAFE

watch

partners

This work has been supported by the Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Lismore and ATYP (Australian Theatre for Young People).

Photos | Kate Holmes